Former President Donald Trump won over the crowd at the Al Smith dinner with joke after joke at the expense of Vice President Kamala Harris, who declined to attend in person but appeared by video with a former “Saturday Night Live” comedian.
Ms. Harris was the first presidential candidate in 40 years to stiff-arm an invitation by the Archdiocese of New York to attend the charity fundraiser, an absence that did not go unnoticed by those in attendance, including Mr. Trump.
“Catholics, you gotta vote for me. You’d better remember that I’m here and she’s not,” Mr. Trump told the cheering crowd at the white-tie Thursday night fundraising event for Catholic charities.
The Republican presidential nominee received standing ovations both before and after his remarks at the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, named for the first Catholic presidential nominee of a major political party.
Most of Mr. Trump’s jokes and riffs were targeted at his Democratic opponent.
“If you really wanted Vice President Harris to accept your invitation, you should have told her the funds were going to bail out the looters and rioters in Minneapolis, and she would have been here, guaranteed,” Mr. Trump said.
The Republican presidential nominee brought up Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s video last week showing her feeding a Dorito into the upturned mouth of a feminist podcaster in what was criticized on the right as a mockery of the Eucharist.
“All polls are indicating I’m leading big with the Catholic vote, as I should be. But I don’t think Kamala has given up yet,” Mr. Trump said. “She hasn’t. Instead of attending tonight, she’s in Michigan receiving communion from Gretchen Whitmer.”
And then this: “There’s a group called White Dudes for Harris. But I’m not worried about them at all because their wives and their wives’ lovers are all voting for me.”
But Mr. Trump’s jokes sometimes stepped over onto the crude side.
He was going through a litany of all the Democrats in the audience and when he got to former New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, he blasted him in non-joking terms and then veered into profanity.
“He was a terrible mayor. I don’t give a s—- if this is comedy or not,” he said.
Despite her absence, Ms. Harris managed to get in a few shots at Mr. Trump in a video she sent to play at the dinner, which featured former “Saturday Night Live” regular Molly Shannon as the character Mary Katherine Gallagher, a Catholic schoolgirl.
“Is there anything you don’t think I should bring up tonight?” Ms. Harris asked the character in the video.
Ms. Shannon replied: “Well, don’t lie. Thou shall not bear false witness to thy neighbor.”
Quipped Ms. Harris: “Well, indeed, especially thy neighbor’s election results.”
Comedian Jim Gaffigan said he was puzzled by the Democrat’s decision to skip the event.
“Catholics will be a key demographic in every battleground state,” Mr. Gaffigan said. “I’m sorry, why is Vice President Harris not here?”
The crowd at the New York Hilton Midtown erupted in cheers and boos.
“I mean consider this: This is a room of Catholics and Jews in New York City. This is a layup for the Democratic nominee,” said Mr. Gaffigan. “In her defense, she did find time to appear on ‘The View,’ Howard Stern, Colbert, and the longtime staple of campaigning, the Call Her Daddy podcast.”
The annual fundraiser for Catholic charities was expected to raise nearly $10 million.
Other luminaries at the dinner included New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York Attorney General Letitia James, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer.
Mr. Schumer, a Democrat, had the bad fortune to be seated next to the podium as Mr. Trump delivered blast after blast at Ms. Harris, President Biden … and him.
“Chuck Schumer is here looking very glum,” said Mr. Trump. “Look on the bright side, Chuck. Considering how woke your party has become, if Kamala loses, you still have a chance to become the first woman president.”
Mr. Trump added: “He’s a good man, actually. I hate to say it.”
Ammar Moussa, the Harris-Walz 2024 Rapid Response director, blasted Mr. Trump after the dinner, saying he “struggled to read scripted notes written by his handlers” and “stumbled over his words.”
“The rare moments he was off script, he went on long incomprehensible rambles, reminding Americans how unstable he’s become,” he said in a statement. “And of course he made it all about himself.”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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